Self-adhering sectional underarm absorbent pad



D. c. OLIVER 2,818,572

SELF-ADHERING SECTIONAL UNDERARM ABSORBENT PAD Jan. 7, 1958 Filed June 20, 1955 .UDFUTHY C. UL/VER' INVENTOR.

EK N E ll United States Patent f 1 2,818,572 SELF-ADHERING SECTIONAL UNDERARM ABSORBENT PAD Dorothy C. Oliver, Portland, Oreg. Application June20, 1955, Serial No. 516,447 1 Claim. (Cl. 255) This invention relates to a novel article of manufacture in the form of a combined armpit perspiration absorbent and deodorizing shield and garment protector.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an eflicient inexpensive disposable shield as set forth which, instead of being aflixed to a garment as the cumbersome dress shields were heretofore, is adhesively attached to the skin under the arm of a user, inconspicuous in use and comfortable to wear and economical in cost that it may be disposed of after its use.

Other objects will appear as my invention is more fully hereinafter described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the application of two forms of the invention to the armpits of a user.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a shield made in accordance with my invention.

Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view showing the shield of Figures 2 and 3 in folded form.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are views similar to Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a further modification.

Figure 9 is a view of the shield of Figure 8 in folded form and with a fragment broken away for clearness of illustration.

Figures 10 and 11 are plan views of still further modifications.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings:

The shield shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 comprises a pad divided into two sections, indicated by reference numerals 1 and 2, preferably made of cotton, gauze or other soft absorbent material. A backing sheet 3 for the pad sections is preferably made of moisture-proof material elastically yieldable longitudinally and transversely and provided with an adhesive coating 4 over the entire area of one of its sides by means of which the pad sections are secured to the backing sheet. The pad sections gradually taper from their semicircular end portions to the transverse line of their abutment 6 at the center of the backing sheet. The size of the backing sheet exceeds that of the pad by a perimetrical marginal portion 7 whose adhesive coating when pressed against the skin will secure the shield to the armpit of the user with the pad sections properly applied to the axillary region thereof as shown under the left arm in Figure 1. Since the material of the backing sheet is stretchable in all directions a perfect fit can be obtained by molding the marginal portion 7 to the contour of the armpit. The shield thus being rendered leak-proof about its entire perimeter confines the underarm moisture to absorption by the pad sections 1 and 2.

It will be noted in Figure 4 that when the shield is folded, as in normal use, the abutting end portions of the pad sections will stretch to a reduced thickness as they are pulled around the curvature of the fold and in some applications may be uncomfortable to the wearer. To compensate for this reduction in thickness I provide a modified form of shield as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 wherein one pad section 2A is elongated at its inner end into a flap 8 loosely overlying the inner end portion of the other pad section 1A. When the shield is folded as in Figure 7 a full thickness of padding is thus provided since the flap is not attached to the backing sheet 3A 2,818,572 Patented Jan. 7, 1958 "ice and it will not become distorted into a reduced thickness by the bend in the backing sheet.

In the modification shown in Figures 8 and 9 the pad sections 1B and 2B are identical with those shown in Figure 2 but the backing sheet 3B is of less width at its center section than that of the abutting edges of the pad sections so that the overhanging portions 9 of the pad sections will protect the underarm of the wearer from the corners 10 of the backing sheet when folded as in Figure 9.

In Figure 10 the center of the backing sheet 30 is cut inwardly as at 11 to a width equal to that of the abutting edges of the pad sections 1C and 2C.

In the further modification shown in Figure 11 the shield in its entirety is substantially elliptical in plan view. The pad sections 11A and 12 are of unequal lengths and abut each other as at 13 along a transverse line where the backing sheet 14 will fold when applied to the armpit of the wearer. By this arrangement the shield may be applied as shown in Figure l with the short pad section 11A toward the body and the long section 12 against the underarm. The shield may be readily applied in a reverse position if it is known to the wearer that more perspiration emanates from the body side of the axilla than from the underarm area thereof.

In all forms of the invention shown the size of the backing sheet exceeds that of its respective pad sections to provide the adhesive marginal portions as aforesaid and as shown. The pad sections may be treated with any approved medicament to reduce perspiration or to neutralize its odor.

While I have shown particular forms of embodiment of my invention I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

I claim:

A self-adhering underarm absorbent shield comprising in combination a backing sheet of moisture-proof flexible material elastically yieldable longitudinally and transversely and having the entire surface of one of its sides coated with an adhesive, a pair of absorbent pads adhesively secured to the backing sheet in abutting end to end relationship across the transverse center of the backing sheet whereby a transverse fold line for the backing sheet will be established between said pads, the length and width of the backing sheet being generally greater than that of said absorbent pads whereby to provide adhesive marginal portions for attaching the backing sheet to the underarm skin of the wearer with said absorbent pads in contact with the axilla and whereby the backing sheet will fold along the line of abutment of said absorbent pads, and the backing sheet being recessed inwardly at opposite sides of its said transverse center and thereat being of a width less than that of the abutting edges of the absorbent pads whereby those portions of the absorbent pads overhanging the transverse center of the backing sheet will protect the underarm of the user from the folded corners of the backing sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 174,099 Wilber Feb. 29, 1876 2,336,940 Krantz Dec. 14, 1943 2,669,720 Vandekerck Feb. 23, 1954 2,685,086 Henry Aug. 3, 1954 2,688,751 Kermode Sept. 14, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 693,445 France Nov. 20, 1930 

